Paper, Not Plastic | Surrealist aquatint etching – original, signed, and numbered (9/75)

"Paper, Not Plastic" | Aquatint etching | 1997

My mother was a big fan of paper grocery bags and still preferred them when plastic bags got trendy. Over twenty years later, and we are coming full circle with a return to paper and recyclable totes. This image is a nod to her shopping bag preferences; but primarily an observation of behavior and confrontations between people while they hide their true selves behind their paper bag masks – much like how people hide behind their screens today.

Aquatint is an intaglio printmaking technique where the image is incised into a surface. The incised area holds the ink and is transferred to the paper. The aquatint process creates tones in addition to etched lines. Created in 1997, this signed and numbered aquatint (9/75 - varied edition) is in sepia ink and printed on cream/ beige-colored watercolor paper. Paper measures 14.375" W x 10" H; printed area measures 9.5" W x 5.875" H. Unframed.

Limited edition - plate no longer exists.